There are many options when it comes to pet food, and along with the options comes quite a bit of confusion. Commercial pet food claims to be the healthiest food for your pet, yet raw diets are gaining in popularity and in use. As you evaluate the possibility of going to a food diet that’s raw, it’s good to look at the risks associated with both.

We are well aware of pet food recalls, so we know a commercial diet is not risk free. Looking at the history of commercial pet food, we see canned horse meat and scraps introduced in the 1920’s. Then in the late 1940’s dry pet food took off as a method of using cheap by-products and grains. This food was promoted for its convenience. In the ‘60s, the pet food industry began a campaign to get people to stop feeding their dogs anything but packaged dog food by warning against table scraps. What they offered as the healthy option was extruded pet foods. Because extruded food, cooked under pressure and steam heat, destroys heat-sensitive ingredients such as enzymes and vitamins, pet food manufacturers added synthetic vitamin/mineral supplements to compensate for this deficiency. It’s worthwhile to note also that commercial pet foods include a huge range of chemical preservatives and colorings, some of which are now recognized as carcinogenic.

Many pet owners are switching to a raw diet as a means of coping with the allergies and coat problems that come from feeding extruded food, depleted in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and plant nutrients. They feel the health benefits of a raw diet outweigh any potential risks. The two main concerns with raw diets are bacteria and bone hazards. While food-borne bacteria like such as e-coli and salmonella can be existent in a raw diet, these risks can be drastically lowered by choosing fresh meat from reliable quality sources, and by storing it appropriately. Remember, dogs and cats are routinely exposed to many types of bacteria in their daily lives and their bodies are equipped differently than ours. The bone hazard risk is not as great as some might believe. Raw bones are vital to diets, providing calcium and minerals, as well as teeth and gum benefits. Bones such as chicken bones are considered digestible for dogs. Larger bones, such as beef bones, should be selected and sized so that the dog cannot choke on them. Common sense comes into play. Cooked bones should never be fed, as they splinter.

What we feed our pets is a personal choice, dependent on many factors. By no means is raw your only option, as every animal has individual factors or health issues that may make other diets, such as kibble or homemade cooked, a better choice. Choosing and planning a raw diet for your pet requires self education, research, and common sense. And just because it is raw does not mean it is completely balanced or healthy. Supplements are a necessity with any diet, and natural supplements are highly recommended for all pets. The Missing Link (human food quality) pet supplements are made with ingredients that are nutrient rich to address the problems of marginal or empty calories and missing nutrients that are characteristic of commercial pet diets and even some raw diets. These nutrients provide support to the digestive, nervous, and immune systems. The result is sustained energy, healthy skin and coat, and much more.

There is a tremendous amount of information available online with regard to dog breeding and choosing a puppy, but no amount of online searching can compare to the insight gained from a one-on-one conversation with a highly regarded breeder. One such person is Bob Wimberg, an Indiana breeder of Russian Wolfhounds or Borzoi, treasured for hundreds of years by the Russian nobility. Bob has owned Borzoi for 28 years and he breeds them about every four to five years. The first thing of note about this high quality breeder, is that his focus is upon rearing animals naturally, breeding them only when it is healthy to do so, and giving them as high a quality of life as possible without the use of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Bob believes in using a dog diet made up of whole, natural foods, and treating his Borozi with natural remedies as much as possible. He uses herbs and garlic, bio-active natural dog supplements with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, and of course no growth hormones. He explains that one of the most common problems in a dog is dry itchy skin and a dry coat, and these problems are entirely due to inadequate nutrition. Bob uses natural supplements containing the missing ingredients between what dogs would eat in the wild and processed food or even the home-prepared food. The result is complete dog health and no parasites.

Bob stated that his main goal is the improvement of the breed following standards that have been set down for hundreds of years. The Borzoi is an animal used to hunt ground game and so his breeding has to focus on the functionality of the dog. Bob explained, “There is sometimes a gap between show dogs and functional dogs, and even though I show my dogs, I work to close that gap by choosing animals that can do what they were originally bred to do. That means they need functional running gear, strong and healthy legs, a functional top line and double suspension gait when at full speed.” Bob takes the traits that are predominant in the show ring and combines them with traits that make the dog a functional hunter. The result is puppies that are both beautiful and functional. Bob continued, “When proper breeding is combined with natural rearing, the result is an exceptionally healthy puppy, able to fulfill its natural purpose. Even if my dogs don’t actually hunt anymore, it’s important that the aspects that are in the hunting dog not be bred out.”

Bob went on to offer some recommendations in looking for and choosing a puppy. He suggests that looking at your lifestyle, and choosing a breed that fits your lifestyle should be the primary consideration. This is where buying a book on breeds, or going online to study breeds will be important. Choose the breed of dog that has the size, temperament and personality attributes that will fit your family, your location, and the way you live. The Borzoi, for example, is not a dog that is good for everybody. They need a lot of exercise, grooming and attention, and they are a sight hound so they are very visually oriented. That may not be a perfect fit for every family.

Once you’ve chosen a breed, you’ll start the search for the puppy that is meant for you. Avoid the pet stores and don’t necessarily choose the most advertised breeder – look instead for a breeder in your area. All AKC dog breeds have mother clubs. These clubs should be able to link you to a breeder in your area who is in good standing with the AKC. Once you’ve found a legitimate breeder in your area, set up an appointment. Your goal will be to find out when the puppies are going to be born so that you can visit again and watch the puppies grow up to the point of weaning. Approaching your choice in this way will enable you to select a pet that is perfect for you. During your visit to the breeder, ask what they consider a good dog diet and observe the pet products and supplements they use. If the parents and grandparents are there, observe the longevity and health of the generations. When the puppies are weaned and put up for sale make a couple more visits in order to find a puppy that is active, acts healthy, is vital, interacts with the rest of the litter, is playing and responds to you. Most likely the puppy that chooses you will be the puppy you take home.

Bob offered the following advice to new puppy owners: “This is not a disposable purchase. This is an addition to the family that is going to be there ten, twelve or maybe 15 years depending on the breed. Your dog is utterly dependent on you. Taking care starts from the day you bring a dog home and nutrition is a vital part of that care.” For Bob, this is where choosing the right supplements comes in. He explained that he prefers Missing Link nutritional supplements as they fit into his program of natural rearing. Their puppy formula was developed by Dr. Collett, founder of Designing Health, to be used from weaning to eight or nine months depending on the breed. For adult dogs, supplements are pet products that address concerns directly related to nutrition such as allergies, dry skin, arthritis, bad digestion and dry coat.

We join with Bob in recommending that you give much time and thought to selecting your breed, selecting your breeder, selecting your puppy and selecting your pet products for their nutritional quality. If you do, your family will be rewarded with a beautiful, healthy, happy and devoted friend.

Check out more information about this subject in our other blog post – Choosing a Puppy? Four Tips from a Professional Breeder.